Now in its 15th year, Dreams to Reality collects donated clothing, undergarments, accessories and shoes, and distributes them to women searching for jobs and those who are already in the workforce.
Chairman of the Board Liz Lehmann said the charitable organization collects nearly 20,000 items annually. Articles that aren't kept by the organization are donated to other needy charities in town, such as the Salvation Army and the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service.
"A lot of the people we help are single mothers, and many of them are working already," Lehmann said.
Typically "customers" select between 10 and 12 articles of clothing that they can mix and match to create a polished look. The agency also provides the scarves, jewelry, purses and other accessories that women need to create a professional image, Lehmann added.
"Accessories do a lot to make people look pulled-together," she said. "We're all about self-image, confidence and self-esteem."
She noted many people think Dreams to Reality only provides white-collar office attire, but the organization is devoted to helping every kind of worker.
"We've been known to provide steel-toed shoes, which can be expensive," she said.
The agency also conducts surveys to determine how women feel before and after their experience.
"Many women call us back and say, "I got the job!' We really feel we are making a difference," she said.
Unlike other agencies in town that resell articles of used clothing, Dreams to Reality isn't a shop people can drop by daily. Instead, 30 or more charitable groups - churches, employment agencies, etc. - have forms they fill out to refer potential clients to Dreams to Reality.
Once a referral is made, a Dreams to Reality volunteer contacts the client and schedules an appointment to come by the store, Lehmann explained. Appointments typically take about an hour.
Trained volunteers, or "image consultants," help clients make selections.
"An employer makes a judgment in the first five minutes," Lehmann said. "That's why that first impression is very important."
Dreams to Reality depends on a team of dedicated volunteers.
"We would not be able to do what we do without them," she said.
The organization continues to search for additional volunteers and is always looking for donated garments in good condition. It also accepts cash donations, which are used to purchase undergarments.
People who would like to donate clothing to the agency can drop items off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and between 9 and 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month.
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